Portugal has been cray cray busy with tourists in the past few years and it’s with good reason. It’s gorgey. All of it. Every inch. And it’s tasty as all hell (eat pastel de nata custard tarts and bacalhau cod fritters!). And the beaches are fantastic. It’s just such a beaaaaut place. It’s actually where I started my year of traveling around ze world!

Lisbon

Neighborhoods to explore:

• Principe Real

• Bairro Alto

• Baixa

• Alfama

Do:

• try different foods at Time Out Mercado da Ribeira

• eat pastel de nata at Manteigaria

• shopping at Bird on a Wire Vintage and A Vida Portugesa

Stay:

• Baixa House (would have loved to have stayed here, super cool decor)

• The Lisboans (where I stayed, great spot)

• Palacete chafariz del Rei

• Memmo Alfama Hotel

• Memmo Principe Real

• Santa Clara 1728

Good viewpoints of the city:

• Castelo de São Jorge

• Miradouro da Graça

• Miradouro de Sao Pedro de alcantara

• Miradouro de Santa luzia

Drink spots:

• Park Bar Rooftop (went here, great view)

• Taberna Boutique (went here, fun music)

• O Bom O Mau e O Vilao

• Bar Vou Ao Camoes (for capirinhas)

• Terrace Bar (good views)

• Porto del Sol (happy hour for sunset)

Restos I went to and loved:

• Cantinho Do Avillez

• Prado

• O Cantinho Do Aziz (African food)

• Bettina & Niccolo Corallo (bakery, try pimento bonbons)

Restos I’d love to try one day:

• A Cevicheria

• Ponto Final

• Taberna da rua das Flores

• Pharmacia

• Bairro do Avillez

• Hello Kristof cafe

• Fabrica Lisboa (croissants)

• Adeda tia Matilde

• Belcanto

• Topo (try aleheira croquettes)

• Beco

• Cantina Peruana

• Tasca Kome (Japanese)

• Cafe Lisboa

• Beco Cabare do Avillez

• 100 Maneira (one of the best chefs)

• Mesa de Frades (for Fado)

• Rio Maravilha (sunset view)

• Palácio do Chiado (beautiful and good drinks, food is ok)

• Bica do Sapato (modern Portuguese cuisine)

• Solar dos Presuntos (traditional)

Porto

Restos:

• Voltaria (looooved, supes cheap)

• Ze Bota

• Olivier Avenida

• Cantinho do Avillez

• Miss'opo

• Cafe candelabro

Other notes:

• the rooftop of Porto Cruz (in Gaia) has a great view of the city

• I stayed at Rosa et Al and it was beautiful

________________

Portugal road trip

I started in the north in Porto, drove down the coast and then around the southern part of the coast. I took 2 weeks but you could do it in much longer if you had the time — and also go into the internal bits of the country! So much to seeeee! (btw the places without a comment below are spots I didn’t make it to but wanted to list anyways as they were on my list when I was there)

Towns/places to see in the northern part of the coast:

• Braga

• Porto (loved)

• Costa Nova

• Nazare (liked a lot)

• Obidos (loved)

• Peniche (just okay)

Towns/places to see in the middle of the coast:

• Sintra (Pena Palace is a must see)

• Cabo da Roca

• Cascais

• Lisbon (loved, obvs)

• Praia do Meco

• ​Ribeira de Cavalo

• Sesimbra

• Praia do Malhao

• Comporta (relaxed, chic beach goers, eat at Restaurante Sal, stay at Sublime Comporta, Cabanas No Rio or Casas Na Areja)

Towns/places to see in the southern part of the coast:

• Porto Covo Praia Grande

• Praia dos Alteirinhos (beautiful beach, nude to the left side)

• Aljezur

• Praia da Amoreia

• Praia do Amado

• Sagres

• Lagos (cute town with lots of tourist shops and pretty local beaches)

• Praia da Batata (local beach in Lagos, connected by cave hallways)

• Praia do Camilo (stunning Lagos beach, busy but must do)

• Ponta da Piedade (in Lagos, views of the cliffs and grottos from above)

• Portimao

• Estombar

• Porches Pottery (amazing pottery shop)

• Algar de Benagil (famous cave, you need to boat/kayak/swim or SUP over to it from the main beach)

• Praia da Marinha

• Albufeira

• Praia Joao D’Arens (insanely stunning, quiet beach, most people were nude)

• Faro

• Ilha Deserta